Real Histories
Alright, the story begins! Instead of talking about how Tang Seng and his disciples escaped, let’s chat about the Lifesaving Temple in Chen's Village. As soon as dawn broke, the folks in the temple were busy preparing offerings for Tang Seng. But when they got downstairs, they found that Tang Seng was missing! Everyone panicked like ants on a hot stove, frantically asking, “Where did Tang Seng go?” They were all lamenting, thinking, “How could we let a living Buddha slip away?”
With no other choice, they had to carry the offerings back upstairs and burn paper for rituals. From then on, every year during the four major festivals and twenty-four minor ones, people came to pray for health, peace, family wishes, wealth, and children. The incense was burning non-stop, creating quite the lively atmosphere—truly a golden furnace with eternal flames and jade lamps shining brightly!
Meanwhile, the Eight Great Vajras used a second wave of fragrant wind to send Tang Seng's four disciples back to the East. Gradually, they spotted Chang'an. It turns out that Emperor Taizong had sent Tang Seng out of the city in the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era, and by the sixteenth year, the Ministry of Works had built a lookout tower outside Xi'an specifically for receiving scriptures. That day, just as Taizong returned to the tower, he suddenly saw auspicious clouds filling the western sky and fragrant winds blowing. The Vajras called out from the air, “Holy Monk, we’ve arrived in Chang'an! We can’t go down; the people here are too clever and might reveal our identities.”
Upon hearing this, the Great Sage immediately said, “You’re right, but how can my master go alone to deliver the scriptures? He needs us to accompany him!” The Vajras replied, “A few days ago, Guanyin Bodhisattva already informed the Tathagata that the round trip only takes eight days, and four days have already passed. We’re worried that Bajie might get too tempted by wealth and delay things.” Bajie chuckled, saying, “If my master becomes a Buddha, I want to become one too! How could I be greedy? Just wait for me; I’ll return after delivering the scriptures!”
So, everyone worked together. Tang Seng carried the burden, Sha Seng led the horse, and the Great Sage guided the holy monk as they descended from the clouds, landing beside the lookout tower. When Taizong and his officials saw them, they immediately rushed down to greet, “Is the royal brother here?” Tang Seng bowed, and Taizong helped him up, asking, “Who are these three?” Tang Seng replied, “They are my disciples I picked up along the way.” Taizong was overjoyed and ordered his attendants, “Quick, bring my carriage and horses! Let the royal brother mount and return to court together!”
Tang Seng was immensely grateful, mounted his horse, and Sun Wukong followed closely behind. Bajie and Sha Seng supported the horse while carrying the burden, and together they entered Chang'an. It was just like the peaceful feasts of yesteryear, with both civil and military officials showcasing their talents. In the water and land arena, monks performed rituals; in the golden hall, officials were summoned. The imperial decree conferred upon Tang Seng the scriptures, which were matched with the five elements, for he had diligently vanquished various demons, and today he was joyfully entering the capital.
Tang Seng and his four disciples entered the court, and the entire city knew that the scripture seeker had returned. The monks of Hongfu Temple in Chang'an saw that even the tops of the pine trees were bending eastward and exclaimed, “How strange! There’s no wind tonight, yet the tree tops are all turned!” An old disciple of Tang Seng chimed in, “Quick, fetch the robes! The scripture teacher has arrived!” The other monks asked, “How do you know?” The old disciple replied, “When the master left back then, he said, ‘After I depart, whether it’s three to five years or six to seven years, just look at the pine tree branches; if they’re facing east, I’ll be back.’ My master’s words are sacred, hence I know.”
Everyone hurriedly put on their robes and rushed to West Street, where news had already spread: “The scripture seeker has just arrived, and the emperor is welcoming him into the city!” The monks, upon hearing this, hurried over, but when they encountered Tang Seng, they dared not approach too closely, instead following behind him toward the gates. Tang Seng dismounted and entered the court with everyone. He handed over the dragon horse and scripture burden to his companions, while Bajie and Sha Seng stood below the jade steps, waiting for their audience.
With a command from Taizong, “Royal brother, ascend the hall!” Tang Seng quickly expressed his gratitude and, after sitting down, had the scriptures brought up. The disciples were quick to act, taking out the scriptures and handing them to the attending officials. Curious, Taizong asked, “How many scriptures do you have? How did you obtain them?” Tang Seng, with a serious expression, replied:
“I went to Ling Mountain and met the Buddha. The two revered ones, Ashvajit and Kasyapa, first invited me to a banquet at the Treasure Pavilion, and then they took me to the Precious Hall to transmit the scriptures. The revered one asked for some offerings, which I wasn’t prepared for, so I didn’t give him anything. As a result, he handed me the scriptures. Thanks to the Buddha’s grace, when preparing to head east, I didn’t expect to be robbed by a demon wind. Luckily, my little disciple had some skills and managed to retrieve the scriptures, but they turned out to be blank scrolls, leaving us all dumbfounded!”
Tang Seng continued, "We went to pay homage to the Buddha and asked for blessings. The Buddha told us, 'When this scripture is completed, a holy monk will come down from the mountains to recite it at the home of Elder Zhao in the Shravasti Kingdom. This will ensure the safety of the living and the liberation of the deceased. In return, he only received three dou and three sheng of golden rice grains, which he felt was too cheap. Later, his descendants ran out of money.' We understood that the revered one needed offerings. The Buddha understood this, so he graciously sent the purple gold bowl to him, which allowed us to receive the actual scriptures with characters. There are a total of thirty-five volumes in this scripture, and after verification, there are five thousand and forty-eight scrolls in total, exactly matching one complete canon!"
Hearing this, Taizong felt delighted and immediately ordered the Guanglu Temple to host a banquet in the East Pavilion to express his gratitude. Just then, he noticed Tang Seng's three disciples standing at the foot of the steps, each looking quite extraordinary, and he asked, "Are these disciples foreigners?" Tang Seng humbly replied, "My eldest disciple's surname is Sun, and his Dharma name is Wukong; everyone calls him Sun Wukong. He originally hails from the Flower Fruit Mountain in the Aolai Kingdom of the Eastern Victory Divine Continent. Five hundred years ago, he caused a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace and was suppressed by the Buddha in the stone box of the Two Realms Mountain in the Western Regions. Later, under the guidance of Guanyin Bodhisattva, he was willing to take refuge, and I rescued him; I truly owe him my protection."
Tang Seng then introduced, "My second disciple's surname is Zhu, and his Dharma name is Wuneng; everyone calls him Zhu Bajie. He originally lived in the Yunzhang Cave on Fuling Mountain, but after causing trouble in the Gao Laozhuang of Wusizang, he was persuaded by the Bodhisattva to do good, and was thus taken in by the Great Sage. He has great strength for carrying burdens and is very capable in crossing waters."
"And my third disciple's surname is Sha, with the Dharma name Wujing; everyone calls him Sha Monk. He originally caused mischief in the Flowing Sand River, but later, under the Bodhisattva's guidance, he also became a monk. As for this horse, it was not bestowed by Your Majesty." Upon hearing this, Taizong asked in confusion, "How could that be?"
Tang Seng explained, "When I was crossing the water at Shepan Mountain and Yingchou Gorge, my original horse was swallowed by this one. Fortunately, the Great Sage asked the Bodhisattva about this horse's origins, and it turned out to be from the Dragon King of the Western Sea. Because of its sins, it was rescued by the Bodhisattva, allowing me to ride it. At that time, it transformed back into its original form; the hair and markings were the same. Thanks to it, we were able to traverse mountains and rugged terrain. I rode it there and it carried the scriptures back, truly a great help!"
Taizong praised him repeatedly and then asked, "You've come from afar, how long was your journey?" Tang Seng replied, "According to the Bodhisattva's words, it was a distance of one hundred thousand and eight thousand li. I didn't keep count along the way, only knowing that fourteen years had passed. Every day was filled with mountains and ridges, encountering large forests and wide rivers. We also passed through several kingdoms, each with verification seals."
Taizong nodded in agreement and then called out, "Disciple, bring forth the customs documents for submission to His Majesty." They were promptly presented. Upon inspecting them, Taizong noticed they were issued three days before the full moon in the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era, and couldn’t help but laugh, "You've come from afar, and today is already the twenty-seventh year of the Zhenguan era!" The documents bore seals from the Kingdom of Baoxiang, the Kingdom of Wujiguo, the Kingdom of Chezhi, the Kingdom of Xiliang Nuguo, the Kingdom of Jisai, the Kingdom of Zhuziguo, the Kingdom of Shizhuo, the Kingdom of Biqiu, and the Kingdom of Mieguo, as well as seals from Fengxian County, Yuhua Prefecture, and Jinping Prefecture. After reviewing them, Taizong accepted them with satisfaction.
That day, Emperor Taizong decided to hold a banquet, so he descended from the hall and walked alongside Tang Seng. Suddenly, Taizong asked, "Do your esteemed disciples understand etiquette?" Tang Seng quickly humbly replied, "My little disciples are merely mountain village demons and do not fully understand our Chinese customs. I hope Your Majesty can forgive them." Taizong laughed heartily, "No problem, no problem! Let’s all go to the East Pavilion for the banquet!" After expressing his thanks, Tang Seng called his disciples, and everyone joyfully made their way into the pavilion.
Upon entering the East Pavilion, wow, it was truly eye-opening! Just look at the colorful embroidery hanging on the doors, the red carpet laid on the floor, the fragrant air wafting around, and the fresh food that made one’s mouth water. Amber cups and glass bowls, inlaid with gold and adorned with gems; golden plates and white jade bowls, intertwined with brocade flowers. The boiled turnips and sugar-coated taro, the sweetness of mushrooms and the freshness of seaweed, were simply dazzling! There were also ginger and spicy bamboo shoots, honey-glazed sunflowers, gluten, wood ear mushrooms, and tofu skin—everything you could imagine was there, nothing was missing!
Not to mention the rare fruits, such as walnuts, persimmons, longan, lychee, ginkgo from Jiangnan, and rabbit-head pears, they were simply irresistible! Taizong sat in the center, surrounded by civil and military officials, with singing, dancing, and music creating a lively atmosphere. Everyone enjoyed themselves throughout the day. It was truly a grand event for the emperor, celebrating the acquisition of the scriptures, filled with blessings, and radiating the light of the Buddha—a moment to be remembered through the ages!
After the banquet, as night fell, Taizong returned to the palace, the officials went home, and Tang Seng and his disciples returned to Hongfu Temple. Upon entering the mountain gate, the monks bowed in greeting, excitedly saying, "Master, this morning the tree tops suddenly turned eastward. We remembered your words and hurried out of the city to welcome you, and it truly came to pass!" Tang Seng, overjoyed, could hardly contain his smile as he entered the abbot's quarters.
That night, Bajie didn’t clamor for food and drink, and both Wukong and Sha Seng appeared particularly composed. After all, everyone had completed their spiritual journey, so it was naturally much quieter. Thus, the master and disciples peacefully slept in the temple.
The next morning, as Taizong ascended to court, he addressed the gathered officials, saying, "I recall the merits of my esteemed brother; they are truly immense and impossible to repay. After a sleepless night, I composed a few verses to express my gratitude, though I haven't written them down yet."
He called out, "Minister of the Central Secretariat, come here; I will recite them to you, and you write them down." Taizong began to recite: "I have heard that the two forms have images, the four seasons have no shape; the mysteries of heaven and earth can be recognized even by the foolish, while the wise find it difficult to exhaust their numbers. It is evident that the obvious does not confuse the foolish; yet the hidden, formless truths can perplex even the clever."
He continued, "Thus, the visible can be measured, and the foolish are not confused; the hidden cannot be seen, and even the wise may be lost. The Buddhist path values emptiness, riding the subtle and controlling the quiet, broadly benefiting all things, governing the ten directions. With supreme power above, and divine strength below. The great encompasses the universe, while the small is captured in a hair's breadth, neither extinguished nor born, existing through countless kalpas and eternally."
Taizong's words grew increasingly profound: "I, the monk Xuanzang, am the leader of the Dharma door. In my youth, I was wise and early understood the principle of emptiness; as I grew, I aligned with the divine clarity and first practiced the four forbearances. The pine wind and water moon cannot compare to its clarity; the celestial dew and bright pearls cannot match its brilliance! Therefore, my wisdom is unobstructed, free from burdens, transcending the six dusts, inheriting a timeless reputation."
"I hope to spread the true scriptures, shining alongside the sun and moon; may blessings be widespread, coexisting with heaven and earth." Taizong's words were heartfelt and filled with grandeur!
Once Taizong finished writing that elegant piece, he summoned Tang Seng. At that moment, Tang Seng was waiting outside the court doors. Hearing the call, he hurriedly entered the hall and performed a deep bow. Taizong handed him the freshly written text, asking him to take a good look. After reading it, Tang Seng repeatedly expressed his gratitude, feeling moved, "Your Majesty's literary talent is truly ancient and profound, but I am not quite sure what this piece is called."
Taizong smiled and said, "This was composed by me last night to express my gratitude; it is called 'The Preface to the Sacred Teachings.' I wonder if it meets your approval." Tang Seng quickly bowed his head, deeply appreciative. Taizong humbly added, "My writing is still lacking, not at all comparable to the words of stone and metal, especially the inner scriptures, which I have never heard. Such a hastily composed piece is indeed too rough; I truly feel ashamed."
At that moment, the surrounding officials congratulated him, bowing in reverence to this sacred text, which spread both inside and outside the palace. Taizong asked Tang Seng, "Why not recite the true scriptures for everyone?" Tang Seng quickly replied, "Your Majesty, to recite the true scriptures, we must go to a Buddhist site; the treasure hall is not a place for casual recitation." Upon hearing this, Taizong was overjoyed and immediately inquired, "Which temple in Chang'an is clean?"
At that moment, the Grand Scholar Xiao Yu stepped forward and said, "There is a very clean temple called the Wild Goose Pagoda." Taizong then ordered the officials, "Each of you take a few scrolls of the scriptures and follow me to the Wild Goose Pagoda to invite my esteemed brother to discuss the scriptures." Everyone eagerly took the scrolls and followed Taizong to the temple, where they set up a high platform and arranged everything neatly.
Tang Seng instructed, "Bajie, Sha Seng, you lead the dragon horse and manage the bundles. Wukong will stay by my side." He then turned to Taizong and said, "Your Majesty, if you want to spread the true scriptures throughout the world, we must have copies; the original must be well-preserved and not treated carelessly." Taizong nodded in agreement, "You are right, my esteemed brother. Quickly go to the Hanlin Academy and the officials of the Central Secretariat to have copies made of the true scriptures." Thus, a new temple was built in the eastern part of the city, named the Chenghuang Temple.
Tang Seng held several scrolls of scriptures as he ascended the high platform, preparing to begin the recitation. Suddenly, a fragrant breeze swept through, and eight Vajra appeared in mid-air, shouting, "Those reciting scriptures, quickly put down the scrolls and come back with us to the West!" In an instant, Wukong, Bajie, Sha Seng, and even the white horse soared into the air, causing Tang Seng to drop the scrolls and follow them into the sky. This sight startled Taizong and the officials, who all looked up and bowed in reverence.
This was truly a moment of: "The holy monk diligently sought the scriptures, traveling through the Western universe for fourteen years, enduring hardships and trials, navigating mountains and rivers with great difficulty. Completing the journey, he achieved his goal, traversing three thousand realms and beyond. The profound teachings returned to the homeland, forever to be passed down in the Eastern lands." After Taizong and the officials finished their bows, he selected eminent monks to hold a water and land assembly at the Wild Goose Pagoda, reciting the "Tripitaka" to deliver the souls of the deceased and spread blessings, distributing the transcribed scriptures throughout the world.
As the eight Vajra rode the fragrant wind, they returned Tang Seng and his disciples, along with the white horse, to Ling Mountain in just eight days. At that time, the deities of Ling Mountain were gathered before the Buddha, listening to teachings. The eight Vajra brought the master and disciples into the Buddha hall, addressing the Buddha, "Disciples have come as commanded, delivering the holy monk and his companions back to the Tang Kingdom. We now present the scriptures and report the message."
The Buddha smiled gently and said, "Holy monk, in your past life, you were one of my two disciples named Jin Chanzi. Because you did not heed my teachings and dismissed my great doctrine, you were banished to the Eastern lands. However, you have now returned to the fold, upholding my teachings to retrieve the true scriptures, which is truly a great merit! I hereby promote you to the rank of Sandalwood Merit Buddha." Upon hearing this, Tang Seng felt a deep sense of joy.
Next, the Buddha turned to Sun Wukong: "You, for causing chaos in the Heavenly Palace, I used my profound magical power to suppress you beneath the Five Elements Mountain. Now that you have returned to Buddhism, promoting good and subduing evil, you have accomplished much on your journey. I will promote you to the title of Victorious Fighting Buddha!" Wukong was overjoyed upon hearing this, grinning widely.
Then the Buddha looked at Zhu Bajie: "You were originally the Water God of the Heavenly River and the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, but after causing trouble at the Peach Banquet from drinking, you were demoted to the mortal realm and transformed into a beast. Fortunately, you remembered your beloved and returned to the great teachings, protecting the holy monk. Although you are still mischievous, you have worked hard carrying the burdens, so I will promote you to the position of Pure Land Envoy." Bajie exclaimed, "Everyone else has become a Buddha, and I only get to be a Pure Land Envoy?"
The Buddha laughed and replied, "Because you have a big mouth, are lazy, and eat a lot. In the four great continents of the world, many admire my teachings, and the position of Pure Land Envoy is also quite useful. Why not embrace it?" Bajie thought this made sense and obediently expressed his gratitude.
Next, the Buddha turned to Sha Wujing: "You were originally the Curtain-Lifting General, but after breaking a glass lamp at the Peach Banquet, you were demoted to the mortal realm, landing in the Flowing Sand River, causing harm to others. Fortunately, you have returned to my teachings, protecting the holy monk and successfully leading the horse, so I promote you to the rank of Golden Body Arhat." Finally, the Buddha addressed the white horse: "You were originally the son of the Dragon King of the Western Sea, but due to your unfilial actions, you were demoted. Now that you have returned to the fold, carrying the holy monk and the true scriptures daily, your merits are considerable, so I promote you to the Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Horse."
Tang Seng and his disciples all bowed in gratitude, and even the horse joined in. The Buddha then instructed someone to bring the horse to the Dragon Transformation Pool at the back of Ling Mountain and pushed it into the pool. Before long, the horse stretched its body, shedding its fur to grow dragon horns, its body shimmering with golden scales, silver whiskers sprouting from its jaw, surrounded by auspicious energy, with four hooves on clouds, it flew out of the Dragon Transformation Pool, circling above the mountain gate, leaving all the Buddhas in awe of the Buddha's magical power.
At this moment, Sun Wukong said to Tang Seng, "Master, now that I have become a Buddha, we are equals. Why do you still wear the golden hoop and chant the 'Tightening Spell'? You might as well quickly recite the 'Loosening Spell' to break it, so the Bodhisattva won't come to torment me again!" Tang Seng smiled and replied, "Initially, it was to keep you in check, which is why I used this method. Now that you have become a Buddha, it is naturally no longer needed. Feel for yourself." Wukong touched his head and found the golden hoop was indeed gone, feeling immensely relieved!
At this point, the Sandalwood Buddha, Victorious Fighting Buddha, Pure Land Envoy, and Golden Body Arhat all returned to their respective places, and the Heavenly Dragon Horse returned to its true form. It was truly a grand spectacle!
The grand ceremony of the Five Holy Fruits was bustling with activity, featuring numerous Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, holy monks, and Arhats, as well as celestial beings like Jie Di, Bhikkhus, and Upasikas. It was truly a spectacular gathering of deities! Look at Mount Lingjiu, where the rays of dawn shone brightly, and in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, the clouds floated gracefully, with golden dragons lazily reclining and jade tigers at ease. The black rabbit and turtle-snake wandered nearby, while the red phoenix and blue luan exchanged tender glances—what a beautiful scene!
Now, observe those extraordinary flowers and fruits. The Eight-Petal Flower was in full bloom, and the celestial fruits of the four seasons were competing for beauty. Tall pines and ancient cypress trees reached into the clouds, while emerald cypress and bamboo swayed gracefully. The five-colored plum blossoms bloomed and bore fruit intermittently, the thousand-year-old peach was perfectly ripe, and a myriad of fruits and flowers showcased their splendor amidst swirling auspicious mist—it was truly a fairyland! At this moment, the crowd joined their palms in reverence, chanting in unison: "Namo Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha, Namo Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light King Buddha..."
Next, everyone began to chant the names of various Buddhas: "Namo Shakyamuni Buddha, Namo Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future, Namo Pure Joy Buddha..." The sound of these invocations echoed through the skies, as if even the mountains and rivers were responding.
Then came: "Namo Indestructible Buddha, Namo Treasure Light Buddha, Namo Dragon Sovereign King Buddha..." Each phrase was filled with respect, and the chanting created a lively atmosphere, as if everyone was offering their most sincere blessings to each Buddha. Continuing, "Namo Wisdom Victory Buddha, Namo World Tranquil Light Buddha, Namo Sun and Moon Light Buddha..." The momentum was truly overwhelming!
Finally: "Namo Victorious Fighting Buddha, Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Namo Great Strength Bodhisattva..." This series of names seemed to invite all the stars of the Buddhist realm. Everyone worked together, wishing to use this merit to adorn the Buddha's Pure Land, repay the fourfold kindness, and relieve the suffering of the three paths.
If there are any who hear and see, may they all generate the Bodhi mind, and together we shall be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, fulfilling our obligations in this life. Thus, the story of "Journey to the West" comes to an end, leaving behind countless moments of inspiration and enlightenment.
After the Eight Vajra Guardians sent Tang Seng back home, they didn't mention it again. Under the three-layered gate, the Five Directions Guardians, the Four Value Officials, the Six Ding and Six Jia, and the Protecting Bodhisattva all gathered in front of Guanyin Bodhisattva and respectfully said, "We disciples have followed your instructions to secretly protect the Holy Monk. Today, the Holy Monk has finally completed his journey, and we ask you to hand over the Buddha's golden decree to us." The Bodhisattva was very pleased to hear this and quickly replied, "Of course, of course!" Then she asked, "How did Tang Seng and his four disciples perform along the way?"
The gods responded one after another, "Tang Seng is indeed sincere and resolute, and he could not escape the Bodhisattva's watchful eye. But the hardships he endured are truly endless! We have recorded all the disasters he faced in this disaster ledger." The Bodhisattva took the ledger and carefully examined it from beginning to end, noting all the various tribulations Tang Seng had faced.
"Oh dear, the Golden Cicada's demotion, near-death experiences at birth, being thrown into the river at a full moon... What a legendary tale of survival!" The Bodhisattva shook her head and sighed as she read, realizing how many trials Tang Seng had gone through, from being attacked by a tiger to losing his cassock, from rescuing Bajie to crossing the River of Flowing Sand—countless difficulties.
After finishing, the Bodhisattva suddenly realized, "Oh no! In Buddhism, we talk about returning to the truth through nine trials. Although Tang Seng has faced eighty hardships, he still needs one more! This won't do!" So, she immediately instructed the Guardian, "Go catch up with the Eight Vajra Guardians and have them add one more challenge for him!"
Receiving the order, the Guardian immediately flew up into the clouds and headed east. After a day and night of travel, he finally caught up with the Eight Vajra Guardians and quietly told them, "Listen, the Bodhisattva said that we cannot let Tang Seng miss this last trial, so you must comply!" As soon as the Eight Vajra Guardians heard this, they sprang into action, creating a gust of wind that sent Tang Seng and his disciples, along with their horse and scriptures, tumbling upside down!
As Tang Seng stepped back into the mortal realm, he felt a wave of nervousness wash over him. Bajie saw this and burst into laughter, "Great! This is just the rhythm of fast and slow!" Sha Seng chimed in, "Yeah! Since we're moving fast, let's just take a break here." The Monkey King interjected, "As the saying goes, if you sit at the beach for ten days, you can walk nine beaches in one day. We should rest a bit." Tang Seng shook his head, "Stop bickering and let's figure out where we are."
Sha Seng looked around excitedly and said, "It's here! Master, listen to the sound of the water." The Monkey King teased, "That water sounds like your ancestral home!" Bajie quickly added, "His ancestral home is the River of Flowing Sand!" But Sha Seng corrected him, "No, this is the River of the Sky!" Tang Seng said seriously, "Disciples, take a good look at the riverbank." The Monkey King leaped up, squinted, and after coming down said, "Master, we are on the west bank of the River of the Sky."
Tang Seng suddenly remembered, "I recall there's a Chen family village on the east bank. The last time we passed by, you saved their children, and they even built a boat to help us cross! But now, the west bank is deserted. What should we do?" Bajie complained, "Even the Vajra in front of the Buddha cheats! He clearly said he would send us back, but how come he dropped us halfway? Now we're really in a bind!"
Sha Seng comforted him, "Second brother, stop complaining. Master has achieved enlightenment and shed his mortal body at Lingyun Crossing. He definitely won't fall into the water this time. Let's think of a way to get him across." The Monkey King secretly laughed, "No way! No way!" He knew that Tang Seng's trials weren't over yet, and he would definitely face another challenge, which is why he was deliberately lingering there.
Just then, they suddenly heard someone calling, "Tang Sheng, Tang Sheng! Over here!" The four of them were startled and looked up, only to see a large white turtle poking its head out of the water, calling, "Master, I've waited for you for so many years. You've finally returned!" The Monkey King laughed, "Old Turtle, it's been a long time! It's good to see you again this year!"
Tang Seng, Bajie, and Sha Seng were all overjoyed. The Monkey King said to the old turtle, "If you can take us across, then hurry up and come ashore!" The old turtle immediately jumped onto the shore, and the Monkey King led the horse to the turtle's back, while Bajie squatted behind the horse's tail, Tang Seng stood by the horse's neck, and Sha Seng positioned himself on the other side. The Monkey King stepped onto the old turtle's head and then onto its back, laughing, "Old Turtle, hold steady!"
The old turtle kicked its four legs forcefully, walking on the water's surface as if it were solid ground, carrying the four disciples and the horse directly toward the east bank. It truly fulfilled the saying: "In the gate of no duality, the law is profound and mysterious; all demons retreat upon recognizing the heavenly beings!" After traveling for most of the day, just as they were nearing the east bank, the old turtle suddenly asked, "Master, I once asked the Buddha in the west how many years I have left to live. Did you ask for me?"
Tang Seng then realized that since arriving in the west, he had been so focused on worshiping the Buddha that he hadn't thought about these matters at all. He felt a pang of panic and pondered for a long time without answering. Seeing this, the old turtle knew he hadn’t asked and suddenly shook himself, tossing all four of them and the horse into the water. Fortunately, Tang Seng had already attained enlightenment and wouldn’t sink like before. The white horse was a dragon, and Bajie and Sha Seng could swim. The Monkey King used his divine powers to help Tang Seng up, and they successfully reached the east bank. However, their scripture bag, clothes, and saddle were all soaked, leaving them both exasperated and amused!
As soon as the disciples climbed ashore and tidied up their gear, a sudden gust of wind blew in, darkening the sky in an instant, with thunder rumbling and sand and stones swirling. The wind seemed to turn the world upside down; when the thunder roared, even the mountains shook violently. Suddenly, a blaze erupted, and a bright light shot out from the clouds, shrouding everything in mist, obscuring the trees from view. The wind whipped up dust and debris, causing tigers and leopards to hide in fear, while birds in the sky squawked in chaos.
This frightened Tang Seng greatly, and he quickly held onto the scripture bag; Sha Seng pressed down on the scripture pole, and Bajie held onto the white horse. Meanwhile, the Monkey King gripped his iron rod tightly, ready for anything. It turned out that the wind, mist, thunder, and blaze were all tricks of the evil spirits trying to snatch away their scriptures. They struggled through the night, and it wasn’t until dawn that the chaos subsided. Tang Seng, trembling, asked, "Wukong, what is going on?" The Monkey King replied angrily, "Master, you have no idea! We are braving the might of heaven and earth to protect you in your quest for scriptures. These scriptures are no ordinary items; even ghosts and gods fear them and want to steal them!"
The Monkey King continued to explain, "Because the scriptures got wet, and you are pressing down with your true form, the thunder cannot strike, and the mist cannot confuse us. Plus, I guarded it with my iron rod, so when the sun rises and the yang energy increases, they will have no power over us." After hearing this, Tang Seng, Bajie, and Sha Seng finally understood and expressed their gratitude.
Not long after, the sun shone brightly, and they moved the scriptures to a high cliff to dry. To this day, there are still traces of the scripture-drying stones there. The four of them hung their clothes on the cliff edge, enjoying themselves immensely. Just like the old saying goes: "Pure yang rejoices in the sun; the evil spirits dare not show their strength." At last, they could return to the immortal realm in peace.
While they were drying the scriptures, they suddenly saw a few fishermen approaching. One of them recognized them: "Master, you are the one who crossed the river to the west to fetch scriptures two years ago, right?" Bajie excitedly asked, "Yes! Where are you from? How did you recognize us?" The fisherman replied, "We are from Chen Family Village." Upon hearing this, Bajie immediately asked, "How far is Chen Family Village from here?" The fisherman said, "It's about twenty miles past Nan Chong."
Bajie proudly said to Tang Seng, "Master, let’s move the scriptures to Chen Family Village to dry! They have a place to stay and food to eat, and they can wash our clothes for us." Tang Seng thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "It’s better to dry them here before we leave." At that moment, the fishermen passed through Nan Chong and happened to run into Chen Cheng, who told him, "The master who came to your house to perform the memorial for your son has returned."
Upon hearing this, Chen Cheng immediately brought several tenants over, kneeling and saying, "The old master has returned from fetching scriptures, completing his mission. Why didn’t you come to my house but chose to dry the scriptures here?" The Monkey King replied, "We’ll go once they’re dry." Chen Cheng then asked, "How did the master’s scriptures and clothes get wet?" Tang Seng truthfully answered, "Last year, we relied on the white turtle to cross the river, and unexpectedly, it brought us back this year. Just as we were nearing the shore, it asked me whether I had inquired about my lifespan from the Buddha, which I hadn’t, and as a result, it drenched us." Tang Seng then recounted the entire incident in detail.
Chen Cheng sincerely invited them to his home, and Tang Seng reluctantly began to pack the scriptures. However, he didn’t expect that a few volumes of scriptures had gotten stuck on the stone, causing the end of the scriptures to tear. Therefore, to this day, that set of scriptures remains incomplete, and the scripture-drying stone still bears inscriptions, becoming a small legend.
Tang Seng felt very regretful, realizing that he and his disciples had been too careless about the situation. He sighed and said, "We really neglected this and didn't take proper care of it!" At that moment, Sun Wukong interrupted him with a smile: "Don't worry! The scriptures were originally complete; they just got a bit damaged, which actually adds to their meaning. This is beyond our control!"
So, the master and disciples finished tidying up and followed Chen Cheng to the village. Upon hearing the news, the villagers were all excited, rushing to come and watch. Chen Qing quickly set up an incense altar at the entrance to welcome them, preparing drums and music, creating a lively atmosphere. Soon, Chen Qing brought his whole family out, gratefully bowing to Tang Seng, thanking him for saving their daughter, and inviting them for tea and a meal.
Although Tang Seng had been rewarded with celestial delicacies by the Buddha and had long since detached from mortal food, the elders earnestly urged him to partake, and he had no choice but to oblige. Sun Wukong, who generally didn’t eat such things, shook his head and said, "I’m full." Sha Seng wasn’t very hungry either, but only Bajie felt his appetite was off and put down his bowl. The Monkey King teased, "Why aren’t you eating?" Bajie helplessly replied, "I don’t know; I just suddenly lost my appetite."
Thus, they cleared away the offerings and began discussing their journey for the scriptures. Tang Seng recounted their previous experiences, mentioning bathing at Yuzhen Temple, being reborn at Lingyun Crossing, and meeting the Tathagata at Thunder Sound Temple, finally detailing how he obtained the scripture without words. Just as he was preparing to take his leave, the Chen family insisted on keeping them, gratefully saying, "We have built a Lifesaving Temple specifically to offer incense in your honor!"
The Chen family also invited the children who had previously participated in their memorial rituals, bowing in gratitude. Tang Seng placed the scriptures in front of their hall and read a volume of the "Precious Constant Sutra" together with them. Afterward, they went to the temple, where the Chen family had prepared a lavish feast. Before they could sit down, waves of people came to invite them, creating a bustling scene.
Tang Seng looked at the newly built temple, feeling a surge of emotions. The temple was beautifully adorned, with tall towers and fragrant incense wafting through the air; it truly was a wonderful place. Bajie, seeing the statues in the temple, couldn’t help but pull Wukong and say, "The figure really looks like you!" Sha Seng chimed in, "Second Brother, yours looks quite similar too, but Master’s is a bit too handsome!" Tang Seng laughed and said, "That’s great, truly great!"
At that moment, Wukong asked, "What about the king’s temple? How is it now?" The others replied, "That temple was torn down long ago. Ever since you came, this temple has had bountiful harvests; it’s truly your blessing." Wukong smiled and said, "That’s a gift from heaven and has nothing to do with us. But we will bless you, wishing your descendants prosper and your livestock thrive!"
Everyone was grateful, bowing deeply, and many offered fruits and vegetarian meals. Bajie laughed and said, "When I used to eat, no one invited me; now that I can’t eat much, everyone comes to invite me!" Despite not having a great appetite, he still devoured quite a bit until he was full, and only then did Tang Seng say, "I’m very grateful; let’s pause for tonight and come back tomorrow!"
As night fell, Tang Seng kept watch over the true scriptures, not daring to leave, sitting quietly downstairs. Near the third watch, he softly called out, "Wukong, everyone here knows we’ve completed our task. As the ancients said, 'A true person does not reveal their appearance; revealing appearance is not a true person.' I’m afraid staying here too long might affect important matters." Wukong nodded, "Master is right; while it’s quiet at night, let’s leave quickly."
Bajie and Sha Seng also understood tacitly, and even the white horse seemed to agree. So, they quietly got up, loaded their luggage, and stealthily walked out through the corridor. When they reached the mountain gate, they found it locked. Wukong used a unlocking spell to open the door and led the way east. Just then, they heard the call of the Eight Great Vajra: "Those escaping, follow me!" Tang Seng sensed the fragrant wind and felt a jolt in his heart. This was indeed: "The elixir completes the original face; the body is strong and bows to the master." As for how they met Tang Wang, that will be explained next time.
The gentleman Kou had just come back to life and was busy preparing the banners and music for the send-off. Monks, Taoists, and friends gathered together, creating a lively atmosphere. Tang Seng and his four disciples hit the road, heading west toward the land of Buddha. Along the way, they saw all kinds of beautiful flowers and ancient pines, truly a feast for the eyes. In every household, people were practicing their cultivation, and down the mountain, someone was reciting scriptures. It was indeed a great place for spiritual practice.
After walking for six or seven days, they suddenly spotted a tall building that seemed to pierce the clouds, as if it were about to break through the sky. Looking down at the setting sun, one could almost reach out and grab a shooting star. The windows were so wide they could swallow the entire universe, and the building towered high into the clouds. This was the Ling Palace, a place filled with treasures that left people feeling refreshed. Tang Seng was so astonished he could hardly speak, exclaiming, “This place is amazing!”
Wukong, ever the prankster, chimed in, “Master, you were so eager to kneel before that fake Buddha, but now that we’re at the real Buddha’s place, why aren’t you getting off your horse?” Tang Seng hurriedly dismounted, making a beeline for the entrance of the tall building. At the door stood a young Taoist boy leaning against the mountain gate, calling out to them, “Could it be that the people from the East, here to fetch the scriptures, have arrived?” Tang Seng straightened his clothes and looked up, noticing the boy was dressed in brocade robes, waving a jade whisk—he truly had an air of a celestial being.
Wukong recognized him and excitedly said, “Master, that’s the Grand Immortal from the Golden Summit at the foot of the Spirit Mountain! He’s here to welcome us!” Realizing this, Tang Seng quickly approached to pay his respects. The Grand Immortal smiled and said, “Holy Monk, you’ve finally arrived! I’ve been waiting for you for ten years, and I didn’t expect to see you this year.” Tang Seng joined his palms and replied, “Thank you for your warm welcome, Grand Immortal! I’m truly grateful!” So, the four disciples led their horses and burdens into the temple, greeting the Grand Immortal one by one.
The Grand Immortal invited them for tea, set up a feast, and even asked a young boy to prepare a fragrant bath for Tang Seng to cleanse himself before ascending to the Buddha’s realm. At that moment, the hearts of the master and disciples were filled with joy. After enduring countless hardships, they had finally arrived at this beautiful place—a moment worth celebrating. Cleansing away the dust, their spirits felt renewed, ready to embrace a new beginning.
The next day, Tang Seng donned a brand new brocade robe, put on his Pi Lu hat, and held his staff, preparing to bid farewell to the Grand Immortal. The Grand Immortal chuckled, “You were looking all ragged yesterday, but today you look so splendid! You truly resemble a child of Buddha.” After saying goodbye, Wukong interjected, “Grand Immortal, there’s no need to see us off; we can find our own way.” The Grand Immortal replied, “You know the cloud path, but the Holy Monk hasn’t yet walked the cloud path; you must take the main road.”
Wukong thought this made sense and said, “Alright then, since there’s a main road, please guide us a bit. My master is eager to pay respects to the Buddha; we can’t afford to delay.” The Grand Immortal smiled and took Tang Seng’s hand, leading them toward the Dharma gate. It turned out this path led directly out of the mountain gate and through the back door of the temple.
The Grand Immortal pointed to the Spirit Mountain and said, “Holy Monk, look at that peak in the distance, glowing with five-colored auspicious light, surrounded by layers of good fortune—that is the Sacred Peak of Lingjiu, the holy place of the Buddha.” Upon seeing it, Tang Seng immediately bowed down. Wukong laughed, “Master, we’re not at the place to bow yet! There’s a saying: ‘A mountain looks closer than it is.’ We still have quite a distance to go; how can we bow now?” The Grand Immortal replied, “Holy Monk, you’ve already arrived at the blessed land. Now that you see the Spirit Mountain, I’ll take my leave.” Tang Seng then bowed and continued on their journey.
Wukong chuckled and said, “This is the way! Look, Ba Jie is even more flustered.” Ba Jie exclaimed, “Who would dare walk on this bridge? The water is wide and swift, and there’s only a single log—it’s too slippery, we can’t possibly cross!” Wukong dismissed his concerns, saying, “Just wait! I’ll show you how it’s done!” With that, he leaped onto the log bridge, wobbling as he ran across, waving to them from the other side, “Come on! Hurry over!”
Tang Seng and Ba Jie shook their heads, saying, “No way! No way! No way!” Wukong ran back and pulled Ba Jie, saying, “Come on, you fool, follow me!” Ba Jie plopped down on the ground, crying, “It’s slippery! Slippery! I don’t want to fall into the water! Let me ride the wind and mist instead!” Wukong pressed him down, “What nonsense! You have to walk across this bridge to become a Buddha!” Ba Jie wailed, “Brother, becoming a Buddha doesn’t matter if I can’t cross!”
As they were tugging back and forth by the bridge, Sha Seng saw what was happening and hurried over to mediate. Just then, Tang Seng turned back and suddenly spotted a boat approaching on the water. Excitedly, he shouted, “Disciples, stop messing around! A boat is coming!” The three immediately jumped up, staring at the boat. As it got closer, they realized it was a bottomless boat. Wukong, with his keen eyes, recognized it as the boat that ferries people to the Buddha, feeling secretly pleased.
Wukong shouted, “Hurry! Hurry! Get on board!” As the boat docked, Tang Seng felt a bit anxious, wondering, “How can a bottomless boat carry people?” The Buddha laughed and said, “My boat is well-known; although it has no bottom, it is very stable and won’t capsize in the wind or waves.” Wukong joined his palms and said, “Thank you, Buddha, for guiding my master.” Though Tang Seng was worried, Wukong gave him a push, and he tumbled into the boat, luckily being caught by the boatman and standing steadily on board.
Wukong then led Sha Seng and Ba Jie onto the boat, and they all stood together. The Buddha gently propelled the boat, which smoothly crossed the Lingyun Fairy Crossing. Tang Seng finally sighed in relief as he lightly jumped ashore, feeling a surge of emotions.
As the four disciples just stepped ashore, they turned back to see that the bottomless boat had vanished without a trace. Wukong reminded everyone, “That boat is for the Buddha!” Tang Seng suddenly realized, quickly turning around to thank his three disciples repeatedly. Wukong laughed and said, “Master, no need for formalities; we’re all helping each other. We can attain liberation thanks to your teachings; you also need us to protect you to escape from the mortal realm. Look at the flowers and grass around, the pines and bamboos, and those celestial cranes and flying deer—it's truly breathtaking, so much better than those demonic places!”
Tang Seng felt deeply grateful upon hearing this, and they all cheerfully continued toward the Spirit Mountain. Along the way, they finally saw the ancient Leiyin Temple, towering majestically, its roots connecting to Mount Sumeru, with cleverly arranged peaks and rugged rocks. Below the cliffs were beautiful jade grasses and rare flowers, while fragrant orchids lined the winding paths. Celestial monkeys were picking fruits in the peach grove, looking like they were on fire; white cranes perched on the pines, shrouded in mist like jade stones. Colorful phoenixes danced in pairs, while azure birds called to each other—truly a paradise!
As they continued, they saw the mandarin ducks made of golden tiles, the agate floors paved with flower bricks, and exquisite palaces and towers in every direction. To the south and north, there were endless treasures in the pavilions and towers. The Hall of Heavenly Kings radiated with brilliant light, while the Law Protector Hall was ablaze with purple flames. The pagoda stood tall, with the scent of flowers wafting through the air—this was truly a land of peace, feeling like a paradise where time stood still. Free from worldly troubles, they found tranquility in the great hall.
The master and disciples leisurely walked to the summit of the Spirit Mountain, where they saw the noble women under the green pines and the kind-hearted people among the cypress groves. Tang Seng bowed respectfully, and the lay followers, monks, and nuns joined their palms, saying, “Holy Monk, please don’t bow yet; wait until you meet the Buddha.” Wukong laughed and urged, “Hurry and pay your respects to the esteemed one!”
Tang Seng, excited, followed Wukong straight to the entrance of Leiyin Temple. There, they were greeted by the Four Heavenly Kings, who asked, “Has the Holy Monk arrived?” Tang Seng bowed and replied, “Disciple Xuanzang has arrived.” As soon as he finished speaking, the kings said, “Please wait, Holy Monk; allow us to report your arrival.” The kings quickly turned and reported to the gatekeepers at the second door, and then the message was passed to the third door.
The Great Sage led Tang Seng and the others slowly up the Spirit Mountain. After walking a few miles, they came across a rushing river, its waves rolling fiercely, stretching about eight or nine miles wide, and there wasn’t a soul in sight. Tang Seng felt a tightness in his chest and hurriedly asked, “Wukong, something feels off about this road. Did the Grand Immortal point us the wrong way? This river is so wide and swift, and there are no boats—how are we supposed to cross?”
Inside the mountain gate, the divine monk heard that Tang Seng had arrived and hurried to the Great Hero Hall to report to Buddha: “The holy monk from the Tang Dynasty has come to seek the scriptures!” The Buddha was overjoyed and immediately summoned the Eight Bodhisattvas, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Five Hundred Arhats, the Three Thousand Celestials, the Eleven Great Suns, and the Eighteen Guardians, arranging them neatly and issuing a golden decree to summon Tang Seng into the hall.
Tang Seng, following the proper etiquette, led his horse, carried his burdens, and, accompanied by Wukong, Wuneng, and Wujing, walked straight into the mountain gate.
On a sunny day, Tang Seng and his disciples excitedly arrived in front of the Great Hero Hall, bowing respectfully to the Buddha. After their bows, they also bowed to the left and right, showing utmost seriousness. After bowing three times in total, they finally presented their official documents. The Buddha read them while murmuring to himself and eventually handed the documents to Tang Seng.
Tang Seng bowed and said, “Disciple Xuanzang, under the orders of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, has come to seek the true scriptures. I hope the Buddha can show mercy and allow me to return home soon.” Upon hearing this, the Buddha felt a surge of compassion and said, “The situation in your eastern land is truly dire! There are many people there, filled with greed, violence, lust, and deceit—a veritable cesspool! They do not follow Buddhism, do not seek good fortune, and the virtues of loyalty and filial piety are completely ignored. It is indeed heartbreaking.”
The Buddha continued, “Confucius taught benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, but the ignorant and foolish still act on whims without restraint. Alas, it’s truly frustrating. However, I have scriptures here that can help you transcend suffering and resolve disasters.” Hearing this, Tang Seng’s eyes lit up, thinking, “This is a great opportunity!”
The Buddha went on, “I have the Tripitaka, comprising a total of thirty-five volumes, which are the path to true cultivation and the gateway to righteousness. The contents are indeed vast and comprehensive.” After finishing, he called for Ashva and Kasyapa: “You two, take these four disciples to the treasure hall and prepare some vegetarian meals for them. After they eat, I will give them the scriptures.”
Thus, Ashva and Kasyapa led the master and disciples downstairs, where they were dazzled by the rare treasures before them. The celestial delicacies, teas, and fruits were incredibly delicious, incomparable to earthly food. The disciples felt overjoyed, indulging in the feast, thinking, “After enduring countless hardships, we finally get to enjoy such luxury today!”
After eating, the two venerables accompanied the four disciples into the treasure hall. Upon opening the door, the radiant light and auspicious aura were breathtaking, with colorful mist and clouds swirling, as if they had entered a fairyland. The scripture cabinets were adorned with red labels bearing the names of various scriptures, resembling precious treasures. The sheer number of scriptures inside was overwhelming.
Ashva and Kasyapa said to Tang Seng, “Holy Monk, since you’ve come from the eastern land, do you have anything to send us? Quickly present it so we can transmit the scriptures to you.” Tang Seng scratched his head and replied, “Disciple Xuanzang has traveled a long way and hasn’t prepared anything.” The two venerables laughed heartily, “Ah, to pass on the scriptures empty-handed—future generations will surely starve!”
Seeing Ashva and Kasyapa being coy and reluctant to pass on the scriptures, Wukong felt anxious and couldn’t help but shout, “Master, let’s go tell the Buddha to personally give the scriptures to me!” Ashva quickly stopped him, saying, “Don’t shout! What kind of place is this? You dare to act recklessly! Quickly come and receive the scriptures!” Ba Jie and Sha Seng patiently persuaded Wukong, and in the end, they turned around to receive the scriptures, packing them roll by roll into their bags, loading them onto the horse, and securing two burdens. Then, they bowed in gratitude before the Buddha and headed straight for the main gate.
Along the way, they encountered several Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, bowing to each one, and finally said their farewells to the monks, nuns, and lay followers at the gate, happily descending the mountain to continue their journey. At that moment, on the treasure hall, an ancient Buddha of the Burning Lamp secretly listened to their scripture transmission, realizing that Ashva and Kasyapa had passed on the wordless scriptures to them. He couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “The monks from the eastern land are truly ignorant, not recognizing the wordless scriptures—what a waste of the holy monk’s efforts!”
The ancient Buddha asked, “Who is beside me?” At that moment, the White Lion Venerable jumped out. The ancient Buddha commanded him, “Quickly use your divine power to catch up with Tang Seng and retrieve the wordless scriptures, so he can come back to seek the scriptures with words.” The White Lion Venerable immediately summoned a fierce wind and flew out of Leiyin Temple, his momentum like a rainbow. The wind blew fiercely, resembling a warrior before the Buddha, making even the wind god feel ashamed. The sound of the wind roared, stirring up waves in the rivers and seas. As Tang Seng walked, he suddenly caught a whiff of a fragrant breeze, thinking it was a good omen from the Buddha, unaware that it was a plot.
Wukong laughed and said, “Don’t worry! Look over there, isn’t that a big bridge? We need to cross that bridge to reach our goal!” As they got closer, they saw a sign by the bridge that read “Lingyun Crossing.” But this wasn’t just any bridge; it was a single-log bridge! From a distance, it looked like a jade beam spanning the sky, but up close, it was just a dry piece of wood. Tang Seng’s heart sank: “Wukong, this bridge doesn’t look safe for anyone to walk on; let’s not waste our time trying to find a way.”
At that moment, a hand reached out from mid-air and gently snatched the scriptures from the horse, causing Tang Seng to feel a tightness in his chest and cry out in alarm. Ba Jie quickly rolled over to give chase, while Sha Seng protected the scripture burden, and Wukong also hurried after them. Seeing Wukong pursuing closely, the White Lion Venerable was afraid he would get hit by a staff and hurt himself, so he crushed the scripture bag and dropped it on the ground. Wukong saw the bag was broken and felt anxious, deciding not to chase anymore but to hover above the clouds, leaving the scriptures behind.
Ba Jie noticed the scriptures had fallen and hurriedly joined Wukong to pick them up, quickly returning to Tang Seng. Tang Seng, with tears in his eyes, lamented, “Disciple, there are still fierce demons in the Pure Land bullying us!” Sha Seng opened the scattered scriptures and found them completely blank, panicking as he handed one to Tang Seng, saying, “Master, this volume has no words!” Wukong opened another scroll, and it was also blank. Ba Jie opened his, and it too had no words. Tang Seng helplessly said, “Quickly, let’s open them all and see.”
As a result, every scroll was blank. The elder sighed, “The people of the eastern land are truly unfortunate! What use is such a wordless blank volume to take back? How can I face the Tang Emperor? This is truly a crime against the emperor!” Wukong had already figured it out and said to Tang Seng, “Master, don’t worry. This is the scheme of Ashva and Kasyapa. They asked us for something in return and ended up giving us these blank papers. Let’s go back and report to the Buddha about their cheating!”
Ba Jie chimed in, “Exactly! Let’s go report them!” The four disciples hurried back up the mountain, rushing back to Leiyin Temple. Soon, they arrived outside the mountain gate, where the Heavenly Kings greeted them with smiles, asking, “Is the holy monk here to exchange scriptures?” Tang Seng nodded in thanks, and the group did not stop them, leading them straight into the Great Hero Hall.
As soon as Wukong entered, he shouted, “Buddha! We have endured countless hardships and difficulties on this journey to the eastern land, only to be cheated by Ashva and Kasyapa, who deliberately gave us wordless blank papers. What use is this to take back? I hope the Buddha punishes them severely!” The Buddha listened and smiled, saying, “Don’t be anxious. I already knew they asked you for something in return. However, scriptures cannot be easily passed on, nor can you return empty-handed. Previously, I recited the scriptures in the country of Shravasti for Elder Zhao, ensuring the safety of his living family and the liberation of the deceased. In return, I only received three douts of rice and some gold, and I felt they sold it too cheaply. You came empty-handed, so naturally, you received the wordless scriptures. These blank volumes are actually a good thing because the beings of your eastern land are ignorant and can only pass them down like this.” After saying this, he called for Ashva and Kasyapa: “Quickly check and give him some volumes of the scriptures with words!”
Tang Seng had nothing valuable to offer, so he had Sha Seng take out his golden alms bowl and present it with both hands: “Disciple has been poor on this journey and hasn’t prepared anything. This bowl was personally bestowed upon me by the Tang Emperor for my alms. Today, I present it as a token of my sincerity, hoping the venerable one will accept it. When I return, I will surely report to the Tang Emperor, and there will be a generous reward!” Ashva accepted the bowl with a slight smile. The nearby guardians of the treasure hall and cooks couldn’t help but tease, “How shameless! The one seeking scriptures dares to offer a gift!”
At this moment, Kasyapa had entered the hall to check the scriptures, verifying each one, while Tang Seng reminded, “Disciples, look carefully this time, don’t make the same mistake as last time!” As a result, every scroll they received was filled with words! In total, they transmitted five thousand forty-eight volumes, neatly packed and loaded onto the horse, with the remaining volumes making up another burden, which Ba Jie and Sha Seng carried, while Wukong led the horse and Tang Seng held his staff, feeling overjoyed and ready to return to make a grand display.
Ashva and Kasyapa guided Tang Seng to see the Buddha. The Buddha sat high on a lotus seat, instructing the two great Arhats, Long Dragon and Subduing Tiger, to strike the cloud bell. Three thousand Buddhas, Celestials, Kings, and Bodhisattvas gathered, creating a lively scene. Heavenly music floated through the air, celestial sounds rang out, and auspicious light filled the sky as all the Buddhas gathered to pay their respects to the Buddha. Then the Buddha asked, “Ashva, Kasyapa, how many volumes of scriptures did you transmit to him?” The two venerables immediately began counting, clearly stating, “We delivered four hundred volumes of the Nirvana Sutra to the Tang Dynasty, three hundred sixty volumes of the Bodhisattva Sutra… in total, thirty-five collections, five thousand forty-eight volumes!”
Tang Seng and his disciples tied up the horse, rested their burdens, and joined their palms in respect, bowing towards the Buddha. The Buddha said to Tang Seng, “The merit of these scriptures is extraordinary. Although they are our treasured teachings, they actually represent the origins of the three teachings. When you reach the southern continent of Jambudvipa, you must demonstrate them well to the beings there. Do not take it lightly; you must bathe and observe fasting before opening the scrolls. They are truly precious!”
Tang Seng, filled with gratitude, bowed his head repeatedly and vowed to uphold the teachings, preparing to leave with the scriptures. At the entrance of the Three Mountains, he expressed his thanks to all the saints, feeling quite pleased.
After sending off Tang Seng, the Buddha dismissed the gathering for the scripture transmission. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva joined his palms and asked the Buddha, “Many years ago, I received the golden decree to go to the eastern land for scriptures. Today, I have finally succeeded, taking fourteen years, and with just eight days left, I still fall short of the required number. I hope the World Honored One can grant the holy monk an early return to the east to complete the count.”
Upon hearing this, the Buddha immediately responded joyfully, “Alright, I grant you the return of the golden decree!”
Then, he instructed the Eight Great Vajra: “Quickly use your divine power to send the holy monk back to the east, ensuring the true scriptures are preserved. You must complete this within eight days!” The Vajras immediately caught up with Tang Seng, shouting, “Those seeking scriptures, come with me!” Tang Seng and his disciples felt as light as a swallow, rising into the clouds with the Vajras. This truly was: seeing nature, understanding the mind, and connecting with the Buddha, achieving success and ascending! As for how they would teach upon their return to the eastern land, that will be told next time!
In a shabby house in Huaguang, Tang Seng and his disciples were enduring the relentless night rain. Meanwhile, in the town of Diling County, a gang of ruthless thugs was plotting their “get-rich-quick scheme.” These guys, being addicted to gambling, had squandered all their savings and were desperate for money. So, they decided to do something big—robbery! They figured tonight was perfect; with the heavy rain and fewer people on the streets, it was a great opportunity to target the wealthy gentleman.
Excitedly, the little thieves armed themselves with daggers and torches, braving the rain as they rushed to the gentleman's house. They burst through the door, shouting as they charged in, scaring the gentleman’s family into a frenzy. The old lady hid under the bed, the old man crouched behind the door, and the children scattered in fear. The thieves began frantically ransacking the place, stuffing gold, silver, jewelry, and clothes into their bags. The gentleman desperately tried to save some of his belongings but was kicked to the ground by a thief, leaving him terrified. After their haul, the thieves escaped along the city wall, celebrating in the rain as they prepared to enjoy their "windfall."
When dawn broke, the gentleman’s servant finally dared to check the situation and found the gentleman dead on the floor, crying out in despair, “Oh no! My master has been killed!” The house was soon filled with wails of grief, a sorrow that tugged at everyone’s heartstrings.
At this moment, the gentleman’s wife was seething with anger, blaming Tang Seng and his disciples for not treating them well, which led to this disaster. Supporting her son Kou Liang, she sneered, “Stop crying! I invited monks today, and tomorrow again, but instead, I ended up inviting the death-bringing monks!” Kou Liang, puzzled, asked, “Mom, how can they be death-bringing?” She replied, “I hid under the bed and saw everything clearly. It was Tang Seng who set the fire, the one with the knife was Zhu Bajie, and the one stealing gold and silver was Sha Monk. The one who killed your father was Sun Wukong!”
Now the brothers understood and were filled with rage. “They’ve been staying with us for half a month, familiarizing themselves with our situation, and took advantage of the night rain to rob us, causing our father’s death! This is too cruel! As soon as it’s light, we’ll go report this!” Kou Dong asked, “How should we write the complaint?” Kou Liang said, “Let’s write it just like Mom said!” So they wrote: “Tang Seng set the fire, Bajie killed, Sha Monk robbed gold and silver, and Sun Wukong killed my father.”
Just as they were busy writing, dawn broke. On one side, relatives were preparing the coffin, while the Kou brothers hurried to the government office to file their complaint. At that moment, the magistrate of Tongtai Prefecture was an upright man. Upon hearing the news, he immediately summoned 150 men, preparing to set out and capture Tang Seng and his disciples.
Meanwhile, Tang Seng and his disciples in the dilapidated house of Huaguang had finally made it to dawn and set out toward the West. At the same time, the vicious robbers were busy dividing their loot after raiding the Kou family, already dreaming of how to enjoy their unexpected wealth. While they were hiding in a hollow, they suddenly spotted Tang Seng and his group passing by. The robbers couldn’t help but feel delighted: “Hey, isn’t that the monk we sent off yesterday?”
The robbers were calculating, thinking this was a golden opportunity, and decided to intercept Tang Seng to grab some cash and his white horse—what a windfall! They raised their weapons and ran towards the road, shouting in unison, “Monk, don’t go! Leave behind some money for the road, and we’ll spare your life! If you dare to resist, you’ll be finished with one blow!” At this, Tang Seng panicked and fidgeted on his horse, while Sha Monk and Bajie were also flustered, thinking, “This is really bad luck!”
But Sun Wukong, with a grin, said, “Master, don’t be afraid! Brothers, don’t worry, let me go ask them.” With that, he adjusted his tiger-skin skirt, shook his brocade robe, and stepped forward, folding his arms and asking, “What are you up to?” The robbers roared in response, “You little brat, are you tired of living? How dare you ask us! Hand over the road money!”
Wukong smiled broadly, saying, “Oh, so you’re the robbers!” The thieves grew even angrier, shouting that they would kill him. Wukong pretended to be scared, saying, “Great King, I’m just a country monk and don’t know any better. Please don’t hold it against me! If you want road money, just ask me; the other three have nothing to do with it.” As he spoke, he pointed at Sha Monk, Bajie, and the white dragon horse. The robbers felt this made some sense and decided to let Wukong go for now.
Wukong then turned to Sha Monk and signaled him. Sha Monk dropped his luggage and followed Wukong and Bajie as they slowly walked west. Wukong bent down, opened his bundle, sprinkled some dust, and chanted a spell, magically freezing the robbers in place, making them stand straight and unable to speak. Wukong shouted, “Master, come back quickly!”
Upon hearing this, Bajie panicked, “Oh no! Brother, you sold us out! He has no money on him, and there’s no gold or silver in the bundle, so he must be after our horse!” But Sha Monk laughed and said, “Second Brother, don’t worry! Big Brother is powerful; these little thieves are nothing. Let’s go back and take a look.” Tang Seng, hearing this, happily turned his horse around and asked, “Wukong, what’s going on?”
Wukong pointed at the robbers and said, “Look at how they’re not moving!” Bajie leaned forward and pushed one of the robbers, asking, “Hey, why aren’t you talking?” The robbers looked confused, and Bajie exclaimed, “They really are dumbfounded!” Wukong laughed and explained, “I’ve used the immobilization spell on them.”
Bajie asked, “Since they’re frozen, why can’t they make a sound?” Wukong replied, “Master, please dismount and sit down. There’s an old saying: there’s only a mistake in taking, not in releasing. Brothers, tie these robbers up and find out who they are.” Sha Monk said, “But we don’t have any ropes.” Wukong immediately pulled out a few hairs, blew some magical breath on them, and transformed them into thirty ropes, starting to tie up the robbers.
Once everything was settled, Wukong chanted another spell, and the robbers slowly regained their senses, realizing they had been captured.
Wukong invited Tang Seng to sit at the head, while he and his brothers held their weapons, imposing as they asked the robbers, “How many of you are there? How long have you been in this business? What have you stolen? Have you ever killed anyone? Is this your first, second, or what number of crimes?” The robbers immediately begged for mercy, “Please spare us, sir!” Wukong impatiently said, “Stop whining and tell the truth!”
The robbers hurriedly explained, “Sir, we’re not habitual offenders; we’re just the sons of good families. We ended up in this because we spent all our money on drinking and gambling. Hearing that the gentleman had money, we planned to rob him last night during the rain. We didn’t expect to run into you. We were just about to divide the loot when you showed up. Please, spare our lives!” Tang Seng was shocked, “Wukong, how could the kind gentleman attract such disaster?”
Wukong laughed and said, “It’s because we made such a fuss when we sent him off that we attracted these rascals. Now they’re out of luck, having run into us.” Tang Seng thought for a moment, “We stayed at his house for half a month; we should repay his kindness. Why not return the stolen goods?” Wukong nodded in agreement and, along with Bajie and Sha Monk, went to gather the gold and silver jewelry from the hollow to load onto their horse.
Wukong initially thought of killing the robbers with a stick but feared Tang Seng would blame him for taking lives, so he shook off his hairs and immobilized the robbers instead. The robbers, freed from their bindings, got up and, seeing the situation was dire, fled into the woods. Tang Seng decided to return the valuables to the gentleman, but this turned out to be like moths to a flame, bringing trouble instead. Thus, a poem says: “Few repay kindness in this world; instead, kindness turns to enmity.”
Just as they were walking, they suddenly saw a group of weapons gleaming in the distance. Tang Seng exclaimed, “Disciples, look! What’s going on there?” Bajie looked worried, “Oh no! This is bad! Those are the robbers we let go; they’ve returned with people for revenge!” But Sha Monk said, “Second Brother, don’t panic; those aren’t robbers; they’re officers!” Wukong whispered to Sha Monk, “The disaster star of our master has come again; it must be the officers here to catch the robbers.”
Before long, the officers surrounded Tang Seng and his companions, shouting, “Good monk, you’ve robbed someone’s belongings and are still hanging around here!” The officers rushed forward, first pulling Tang Seng off his horse and tying him up with ropes, then binding Wukong and the others as well, and taking them toward the city. At this point, Tang Seng felt anxious, Bajie was mumbling, Sha Monk was deep in thought, while Wukong appeared relaxed, as if he was planning something.
Upon arriving in the city, the magistrate sat in the hall, and the officers reported, “Sir, we’ve captured the robbers!” The magistrate looked at Tang Seng and asked, “You monk, claiming to come from the Eastern lands, how have you turned into a robber?” Tang Seng quickly explained, “Your Excellency, I am not a robber. I truly have travel documents; I encountered robbers and seized the gentleman’s belongings to return them. Please see the truth!”
The magistrate sneered coldly, “If you encountered robbers, why didn’t you capture them and report it? How did you four become robbers?” Hearing this, Tang Seng panicked and called out, “Wukong, quickly explain!” Wukong, looking helpless, replied, “With the stolen goods present, what’s the use of explaining?”
Upon hearing this, the magistrate immediately ordered, “Bring the headband and put it on this bald thief’s head, then beat him!”
At this, Wukong’s heart tightened, thinking, “Even though my master is in trouble, I can’t let him suffer too much.” Seeing the officers preparing to put a headband on Tang Seng, he quickly spoke up, “Sir, don’t put that on the monk! Last night, I was the one who set fire, wielded a knife, and robbed; I’m the leader of the robbers. Beat me if you must, but let them go!”
The magistrate ordered, “First, tie up this robber leader!” So, the officers stepped forward and put the headband on Wukong, tightening it. However, the band broke. When they tried another one, Wukong’s scalp didn’t even flinch. Just as they were busy, someone reported, “Sir, Lord Chen Shaobao is here; please go out of the city to welcome him!” Upon hearing this, the magistrate instructed, “Put these robbers in custody and keep a close watch; I’ll interrogate them after I greet my superior.”
Thus, the jailers pushed Tang Seng and his disciples into the prison. Bajie and Sha Monk also brought their luggage inside. Tang Seng looked puzzled and asked, “Disciples, what’s going on?” Wukong laughed, “Master, come in! There are no dogs barking inside; it’s actually a nice place!” The poor four were shoved into the cell, where the guards began to beat them.
Tang Seng cried out in pain, “Wukong! What do we do now?” Wukong comforted him, “They’re beating us for money. There’s a saying: to be safe in good places, you must pay for the suffering. Just give them some money, and it will be resolved.” Tang Seng frowned, “Where will I get money?” Wukong thought for a moment, “If there’s no money, just give them your robe.” Tang Seng felt a pang in his heart, knowing he couldn’t fight back, so he said, “Then do as you wish.”
Wukong immediately called out, “Officers, stop hitting us! We have a brocade robe worth a fortune in our two bundles; you can take it!” The guards, hearing this, hurried to open the bundles. Although there were only a few pieces of cloth and a small bag inside, the last layer wrapped in oil paper glimmered, indicating something valuable.
When they opened it, they found exquisite pearls and rare Buddhist treasures, intricately embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, leaving everyone astonished. The jailer approached angrily, shouting, “What are you shouting about here?” The guards knelt and said, “Sir, these four monks are robbers; they hit us a few times and gave us these two bundles. When we opened them, we found these treasures; we truly don’t know what to do!”
Seeing the treasures, the jailer began to inspect the other clothes and bags, discovering various royal seals and stamps inside. He immediately realized, “This monk is not a robber; don’t touch his clothes. We’ll interrogate him tomorrow!” The guards, upon hearing this, quickly returned the bundles to Tang Seng, rewrapped them, and handed them to the jailer for safekeeping.
Gradually, the sky darkened, and the drum sounded from the tower as the guards patrolled. When the clock struck the fourth watch, Sun Wukong noticed that everyone was sound asleep. He thought to himself, “Master is truly suffering from this imprisonment tonight; I can’t let him endure too much pain.” So, he decided to break his silence, thinking, “The fourth watch is almost here, and disaster is approaching. I need to make arrangements so we can leave the prison by dawn.”
He summoned all his strength, shrank his body, and transformed into a small insect, flying out through the eaves. The night sky was filled with twinkling stars, making it a quiet night. He determined his direction and flew toward the Kou family. Upon arrival, he noticed a brightly lit tofu shop on the west side of the street. The old man was tending the fire, while the old woman was squeezing soy milk.
At that moment, the old man suddenly spoke: “Mama, Kou Daguang has wealth and sons, yet he has no longevity. He and I were classmates when we were young, and I’m five years older than him. His father, Kou Ming, had only about a thousand acres of land in his youth, and the rent wasn’t enough. When he turned twenty, Kou Ming passed away, and Kou Daguang took over the family business; his luck improved. He married a wife who brought prosperity, and as a result, he made money from farming, becoming increasingly wealthy, amassing a fortune of over a hundred thousand. Unfortunately, at forty, he turned to goodness, but last night he was killed by robbers. What a pity!”
After hearing this, Wukong thought it was time to hurry back. He flew into the Kou family’s main hall and saw that the coffin was already prepared, surrounded by lamps, incense, candles, and flowers. The old woman was crying sorrowfully nearby. The two sons had also arrived, bringing their wives to make offerings.
Wukong flew onto the coffin and coughed, startling the two daughters-in-law into a frantic escape. The Kou brothers lay on the ground, too scared to move, calling out, “Father! Kou Le! Kou Le!” The old woman, braver than the rest, rushed to the side of the coffin and asked, “Old gentleman, are you alive?”
Wukong mimicked Kou Daguang’s voice, saying, “I am not alive.” The two sons panicked, kneeling and weeping, “Father! Kou Le! Kou Le!” The old woman asked again, “Gentleman, if you are not alive, how can you still speak?” Wukong replied, “I am a ghost sent by the King of Hell to speak with you.”
He then accused a woman named Zhang: “She has harmed the innocent!” The old woman, frightened, knelt down, saying, “Good old man, how do you know my nickname? I haven’t harmed anyone!”
Wukong scolded, “Don’t speak carelessly; Tang Seng lit the fire, Bajie killed, and Sha Monk robbed gold and silver—all were wronged! Your words harm good people. The four masters encountered robbers, seized the valuables, and sent them to thank me; it was a good intention! Yet you falsely accused them, sending your sons to report them, and the authorities arrested them without careful investigation, causing even the King of Hell to know and sending me to stir up trouble!”
The Kou brothers hurriedly bowed and pleaded for mercy: “Father, please don’t harm the old and young; we are willing to go to the government office tomorrow to clarify the situation. Please bless us!” Upon hearing this, Wukong immediately shouted, “Burn some paper, and I will leave!” The whole family rushed to burn paper, fearing they would anger this “old gentleman.”
Sun Wukong soared into the air, heading straight for the magistrate’s residence. Looking down, he saw that lights were already on inside, and the magistrate had gotten up. He quietly flew into the main hall and noticed a painting hanging on the back wall. The painting depicted an official riding a small horse, surrounded by several attendants holding blue umbrellas, leaving him puzzled about the story behind it. Wukong couldn’t help but pause in front of the painting, just as the magistrate emerged from his room, grooming himself.
Wukong coughed, startling the magistrate, who hurriedly retreated to his room, finished grooming, and donned his robe. He came out to the painting, lighting incense and praying: “To the spirit of Lord Jiang, may my filial nephew Jiang Kun receive the blessings of our ancestors. Today, I, the magistrate of Tongtai, serve you with unending incense. Why do you speak today? Do not let it be for evil or mischief, lest it frightens my household.” Wukong secretly laughed, “This is indeed his esteemed ancestor!” He then pretended to call out, “Nephew Kun, although you hold office due to ancestral blessings, how can you treat the four holy monks as thieves without proper investigation and imprison them?”
Upon hearing this, the magistrate panicked, “My lord, please return; I will immediately release them!” Wukong continued, “Then burn some paper, and I will report back to the King of Hell.” The magistrate hurriedly added incense and burned paper, feeling immensely grateful.
As Wukong flew out, he saw that the east was already lightening. He flew to Diling County and found the county officials busy in the main hall. He thought to himself, “If someone sees the insect speaking, it will reveal my identity.” So, he transformed into a large figure in midair, lowered one foot, and stomped down, causing chaos in the county hall. He shouted loudly, “Listen up, officials: I am a wandering spirit sent by the Jade Emperor. You have wrongfully imprisoned a Buddhist disciple seeking scriptures, disturbing the peace of the three realms. Release him at once!”
The county officials were so frightened that they all knelt down, pleading for mercy: “Your Excellency, please return! We will report to the governor immediately and won’t take any action. Please don’t scare us!” Wukong then returned to his original form and flew back to the cell, crawling back into bed to continue sleeping.
At that moment, the magistrate ascended the hall, just preparing to present the written document when the Kou brothers rushed in, holding the document and kneeling at the entrance, shouting. The magistrate allowed them to enter, and they handed over the document. Upon seeing it, the magistrate was furious: “You submitted a complaint yesterday and now you’re here with a retraction? What’s going on?”
The Kou brothers wept bitterly: “My lord, last night my father’s spirit appeared to me, telling me that the Tang Dynasty holy monk had good intentions. Why are you treating him as a thief and making him suffer in prison? The deities in the underworld are restless and reported this to the King of Hell, who sent a spirit to instruct you to release him, or else the old and young will suffer!”
The magistrate was startled: “How could the spirit appear? This must be a case of wrongful imprisonment.”
While he was thinking, the county magistrate rushed in: “My lord, it’s bad! The Jade Emperor has sent a wandering spirit to the mortal realm, demanding that you release the good people in prison. The monk you captured yesterday is actually a Buddhist disciple seeking scriptures. If you delay any longer, we will be in grave danger, and the city will be reduced to ashes!” The magistrate, terrified, immediately ordered someone to write a notice and quickly release the prisoners.
At that moment, Bajie looked worried: “I wonder what will happen today.” Wukong laughed and said, “Don’t worry, I’ve already taken care of it. When we enter the hall, don’t kneel; the magistrate will invite us to sit. I’ll ask him for our belongings and horses, and if anything is missing, I’ll deal with him!”
As they approached the hall, the magistrate and the officials quickly came down to greet them: “When the holy monk came yesterday, we were busy with our superiors and didn’t get a chance to ask in detail.” Tang Seng clasped his hands and bowed, recounting the previous events once more. The officials all admitted their mistakes, saying, “We were wrong, we were wrong! Please don’t hold it against us!”
Wukong stepped forward, sternly saying, “My white horse and luggage were taken by you; return them to me! This is truly a case of wrongful imprisonment, treating innocent people as thieves!” Seeing Wukong’s imposing demeanor, the county officials immediately ordered the return of the horse and belongings, handing them over one by one.
As you can see, the three of them exuded an intimidating presence, leaving the officials with no choice but to use the Kou family as a cover. Tang Seng advised, “Disciple, don’t be anxious. Let’s go to the Kou family first, to express our condolences and verify who claims I am a thief.” Wukong nodded, “That’s right; I’ll summon the deceased to see who killed him.”
Sha Monk helped Tang Seng onto the horse, and they all rushed out, followed by the county officials to the Kou family. The Kou brothers were kneeling at the door, continuously bowing to welcome them into the hall. Inside, the family was crying. Wukong shouted, “That deceitful woman who harmed the innocent, stop crying! Wait for me to summon your husband and see what he says about who killed him; let’s shame her!”
The officials, hearing this, thought Wukong was joking. Wukong continued, “Gentlemen, please let my master sit for a moment. Bajie and Sha Monk, be sure to protect him while I go.” After saying this, he leaped out the door and looked up at the sky, instantly filling the heavens with colorful clouds and auspicious energy. The crowd finally recognized him as a celestial being capable of riding clouds, and they all hurried to burn incense and pay their respects.
As for Sun Wukong, he traveled swiftly through the clouds, heading straight for the underworld, ultimately crashing into the Hall of Yama. The Ten Yama Kings were startled and quickly welcomed him with cupped hands, while the five ghost judges bowed in greeting. You could see the sword trees bending and the mountains of knives flattened. The spirits in the city of the wronged had nowhere to hide, and the souls under the Naihe Bridge began to be reborn. Truly, with divine light shining, the dark underworld became bright.
Seeing the Great Sage, the Ten Yama Kings quickly asked, “What brings you here?” Wukong replied with a serious expression, “I’m here to find the spirit of Kou Hong from Diling County. Quickly check where he is!” Upon hearing this, the Yama Kings hurriedly explained, “The good man Kou Hong was not taken by the ghost; he came here himself and encountered the Golden Robed Boy of the Earth Store King.” Wukong nodded, said his goodbyes, and headed straight for Cuiyun Palace to find the Earth Store Bodhisattva.
Seeing him, the Bodhisattva performed the customary greeting and inquired about the previous events. Wukong recounted everything, and the Bodhisattva happily said, “Kou Hong has a long lifespan and died without touching the bedding. Because he is a good man, I will appoint him as the head of the record of good destinies. Since the Great Sage has come to take him, I will extend his lifespan by one more cycle, allowing him to accompany you.” The Golden Robed Boy then led Kou Hong out. Upon seeing Wukong, Kou Hong was excited and called out, “Master! Master! Save me!”
Wukong comforted him, saying, “You were killed by robbers. Now you are in the underworld with the Earth Store Bodhisattva. I have come to bring you back to the mortal realm. The Bodhisattva has already agreed and will extend your lifespan by one cycle, so you can return in twelve years.” Kou Hong was deeply grateful and bowed repeatedly. Wukong thanked the Bodhisattva, transformed him into vapor, tucked him into his sleeve, and returned to the mortal realm together.
They flew on clouds to Kou's home. Wukong instructed Bajie to pry open the coffin and pushed Kou Hong's spirit out. Before long, Kou Hong exhaled and came back to life! He crawled out of the coffin and immediately bowed to Tang Seng and the four disciples, saying, “Master! Master! Kou Hong died unjustly, and thanks to you saving me from the underworld, I truly owe you a great debt of gratitude!”
He continued to express his thanks and, upon seeing the officials present, quickly bowed again, saying, “Gentlemen, how do you do?” The magistrate looked embarrassed and said, “Your son initially submitted a complaint against the holy monk, which is why I sent someone to arrest him. I didn’t expect that the monk would encounter robbers on the way, who took your family’s possessions and ended up returning them to you. It was my subordinate who mistakenly captured him without proper investigation, leading to his imprisonment. Tonight, your spirit appeared, and I also received a report about a wandering spirit descending to the mortal realm, so I released the holy monk, who then saved you.”
Kou Hong knelt and said, “Sir, it was truly an injustice to these four holy monks! That night, more than thirty robbers came with weapons to raid our home, and I tried to persuade them, but I was kicked to death. What does that have to do with these gentlemen?” He called over his wife, saying, “Who kicked me to death? How dare you falsely accuse them? Please, sir, deliver justice!” The whole family kept bowing, and the magistrate, being lenient, absolved them of their wrongdoing.
Kou Hong was immensely grateful and arranged a feast to thank the officials for their kindness. Everyone enjoyed the meal heartily, and no one thought about returning to the magistrate’s office. The next day, Kou Hong hung a plaque for the monks, inviting Tang Seng to stay, but Tang Seng firmly refused. In the end, they invited relatives and friends, set up banners, and sent them off as usual.
This is a reminder that while the earth may harbor evil deeds, the heavens do not forsake those with good hearts. Wandering freely along the path of the Tathagata, they reached the gates of the Western Paradise, yet they still did not know how they would meet the Buddha. To find out more, let’s wait for the next chapter.
Once upon a time, Tang Seng and his disciples were using their magical powers to block the monks of the Bu Jin Temple. When the monks saw the black wind howling past but did not see their figures, they thought it was the arrival of a living Buddha and quickly bowed their heads and returned. The time of their journey westward was just at the end of spring and the beginning of summer; the weather was refreshing, and the lotus flowers in the pond were in full bloom. The plum blossoms were ripening after the rain, the wheat swayed in the wind, the fragrance of grass filled the air, petals fell like rain, the yellow orioles sang softly on the willow branches, and the river swallows played by the water with their chicks, while the mountain chickens called incessantly in the hills. The sun was shining brightly, everything was coming back to life, truly a beautiful day.
On this journey, they had been traveling for half a month, and ahead appeared a city wall. Tang Seng curiously asked, "Disciple, what place is this?" The Monkey King looked confused and replied, "I don’t know, I don’t know." Zhu Bajie couldn't help but laugh, saying, "You've walked this road before, how could you not know? Are you trying to tease us?" The Monkey King pouted, "This fool really doesn’t understand! Although I have walked this road, I was in the clouds then, coming and going on a cloud; how could I have truly landed here? This has nothing to do with me, so why bother to find out?"
Just as they were talking, they had already reached the edge of the city. Tang Seng dismounted, crossed the suspension bridge, and walked straight into the city. On the long street, he saw two old men chatting idly. Tang Seng called out, "Disciples, stand in the middle of the street, bow your heads, don’t be reckless, let me ask for directions." The Monkey King and the others obediently stood still, and Tang Seng stepped forward with his palms together and said, "Old benefactor, I come to inquire."
The two old men were discussing the rise and fall of fortunes when they suddenly heard the inquiry and quickly responded, "What does the elder have to say?" Tang Seng said, "I am a monk from afar here to pay my respects to the Buddha. I just arrived and do not know what place this is or where I can find a kind family to share a meal." The old man replied, "This is the Tongtai Prefecture, and behind it is the Dilin County. If the elder wishes to eat, there is no need to solicit; beyond this archway, on the north-south street, there is a tiger-gate tower, which is the home of Mr. Kou. There is a sign in front that says 'No obstruction for ten thousand monks.' Monks like you from afar can enjoy freely. Go quickly, don’t interrupt our conversation."
Tang Seng thanked them and turned to the Monkey King, saying, "This is the Dilin County of Tongtai Prefecture. The two old men said that beyond the archway, on the north-south street, there is a tiger-gate tower, which is Mr. Kou's home, and there is a sign that says 'No obstruction for ten thousand monks,' telling me to go there to eat." Sha Seng echoed, "The west is the land of Buddhism; there must be food to eat. Since this is a prefecture and county, there’s no need to check any documents; let’s go and share a meal." Tang Seng and the three slowly walked along the long street, while the surrounding people looked on in fear and curiosity.
Tang Seng admonished, "Be quiet, don’t be reckless!" So the three indeed lowered their heads and did not dare to raise their eyes. Turning a corner, they indeed saw a wide street running north and south. As they walked, they saw a tiger-gate tower, and on the wall inside the gate hung a large sign that read "No obstruction for ten thousand monks." Tang Seng sighed, "In the western Buddhist land, there are no deceptions among the wise and the foolish. I didn’t believe what the two old men said, but now it seems to be true." Upon hearing this, Bajie was eager to enter. But the Monkey King said, "Fool, wait for someone to come out and ask about the situation before we go in; it’s not too late." Sha Seng agreed, "Big brother is right; we should avoid confusion and trouble for the benefactor." So they rested their horses and luggage at the gate.
At that moment, suddenly an old man with white hair ran out, holding a scale and a basket. Upon seeing Tang Seng and the others, he was so startled that he dropped what he was holding and hurried back to report, "Master! Four strange monks have come outside!" The gentleman happened to be walking in the courtyard, muttering to himself. Upon hearing this, he immediately dropped his cane and rushed out to greet them. Seeing Tang Seng and the others, he showed no embarrassment and warmly welcomed them, "Please come in, please come in!"
Tang Seng humbly followed everyone into the courtyard. The gentleman led the way, turning down an alley and bringing them to a house, introducing, "This is the Buddhist hall, scripture hall, and dining hall specifically for receiving you gentlemen, and the lower area is where my disciples live." Tang Seng praised repeatedly upon hearing this, then took off his cassock, put it on to worship the Buddha, and upon entering the hall, he exclaimed, "Wow! The scene is truly breathtaking: fragrant smoke swirling, candlelight flickering, the hall filled with vibrant flowers, and golden light shimmering all around."
On a crimson shelf hung a purple-gold bell, and colorful lanterns were symmetrically paired with flower-patterned drums. Several pairs of embroidered banners depicting the Eight Treasures swayed, and thousands of golden Buddha statues gleamed brightly. Ancient bronze incense burners and vases, lacquered tables and boxes, filled the air with the rich fragrance of sandalwood from the bronze furnace, while lotuses often bloomed in the bronze vases. On the lacquered table, clouds swirled, and fragrant petals piled up in the lacquered box. Clear water filled the glass lamp, and the oil under the lapis lazuli lamp shone brightly. The sound of a golden bell rang out, truly refreshing and uplifting, making it feel like a fairyland beyond the mundane world.
Tang Seng washed his hands, lit incense, bowed his head in worship, and turned around to greet the gentleman. However, the gentleman said, "Wait! Please come to the scripture hall to meet." Upon entering the scripture hall, they saw a square platform with shelves piled high with countless scriptures; inside jade boxes and golden cases were preserved many ancient texts. On a colorful lacquered table, there were paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones, all exquisite writing tools; in front of a pepper-screen were books, paintings, musical instruments, and chess, all delightful curiosities.
A light jade bell adorned with gold hung there, its refreshing aura invigorating, making one feel spiritually uplifted and relaxed. Just as Tang Seng intended to bow, the gentleman quickly supported him, saying, "Please remove your monk's robe." Tang Seng took off his cassock, and only then did he meet the gentleman, who also introduced him to the Monkey King and the others. The gentleman even specially arranged for the horses to be fed and the luggage to be placed in the corridor before inquiring about their journey.
Tang Seng said, "I am an envoy from the Tang Dynasty in the East, here to pay my respects to the Buddha and seek the true scriptures. I heard that you honor monks, so I specially came to visit and ask for a meal." The gentleman's face lit up with joy as he smiled and said, "My name is Kou Hong, styled Da Kuan, I am sixty-four years old. Since I was forty, I have been hosting countless monks, and today it has finally come to fruition. I have been serving meals for twenty-four years, and I still have a record of the monks I have hosted. Recently, I wanted to calculate the names of the monks I have served, and it turns out I have hosted nine thousand nine hundred ninety-six, just four short of the total. Today, it just happens that four esteemed teachers have arrived, so you must stay and reside for a month. Once I complete this, I will send a sedan and horses to take you up the mountain. It’s only eight hundred miles to Ling Mountain; it’s really not far." Upon hearing this, Tang Seng was very pleased and immediately agreed without further ado.
At this time, several of the gentleman's servants were busy bringing firewood and water into the house, fetching rice, flour, and vegetables to prepare the meal. Suddenly, the gentleman's mother curiously asked, "Whose monks are these? Why are they in such a hurry?" The servants replied, "Four esteemed monks just arrived. Father asked about their origins, and they said they were sent by the emperor of the Tang Dynasty to pay respects to the Buddha at Ling Mountain, but they don’t know how far they’ve traveled. Father said this is a heavenly arrival and instructed us to quickly prepare a meal for them." Hearing this, the old woman was delighted and immediately called for a maid, saying, "Quick, find me some clothes; I want to go see!" The servants replied, "Grandmother, only one can be seen; the other three cannot, as they look terribly ugly." The old woman retorted, "You don’t understand; those who look strange and unique must be celestial beings descended to earth. Hurry and tell your father!"
A servant ran to the scripture hall to inform the gentleman, "Grandmother has come to pay respects to the esteemed teachers from the East." Upon hearing this, Tang Seng immediately stood up. Before long, the old woman arrived at the hall, and upon seeing Tang Seng's handsome appearance and imposing stature, she turned to see that the three disciples also looked extraordinary. Although she knew they were celestial beings, she still felt a bit scared and knelt down to pay her respects. Tang Seng hurriedly returned the gesture, saying, "You honor me with your reverence, Bodhisattva." The old woman asked the gentleman, "Why aren’t the four masters sitting together?" At this moment, Bajie piped up, "The three of us are disciples!" This remark came out like a tiger's roar in the mountains, startling the old woman nearly to the point of falling over.
Just then, another servant came to report, "Two young gentlemen have also arrived." Tang Seng quickly turned around to see that they were two young scholars. The scholars approached the scripture hall and bowed to Tang Seng, who hurriedly returned the gesture. The gentleman stepped forward to explain, "These are my two sons, Kou Liang and Kou Dong. They just returned from their studies in the study room and came to pay respects upon hearing that the teacher had arrived." Upon hearing this, Tang Seng was very pleased and said, "Well done! Well done! Indeed, to have a high status, one must do good deeds and ensure that one’s descendants study well."
Two scholars curiously asked, "Where does this gentleman come from?" The gentleman smiled and replied, "I come from afar, a special envoy sent by the emperor of the Tang Dynasty in the southern Zhanbu continent, here to pay respects to the Buddha and seek scriptures." The scholar said, "I read in 'Shilin Guangji' that there are only four great continents in the world. We are in the Western Niuhe Continent, and there's also the Eastern Shengshen Continent. I wonder how many ages it took for someone from the Southern Zhanbu continent to reach here?" The monk smiled and said, "I spent more time delaying on the road than traveling. I often encountered poisonous demons and fierce monsters, experiencing countless hardships. Fortunately, my three disciples protected me, and after enduring fourteen years of seasons, I finally arrived here."
At that moment, a little fellow came to invite them, saying, "The vegetarian feast is ready. Please come in." The gentleman asked his mother and son to move to another room while he accompanied the four guests into the dining hall. The hall was neatly arranged, with gold-painted tables and black lacquered chairs. In front were five colorful high fruits, all freshly made by skilled craftsmen. The second row had five plates of small dishes, the third row had five plates of fruits, and the fourth row had five large plates of snacks, all fragrant and delicious, truly mouth-watering.
At this time, Zhu Bajie was gobbling down the food like a whirlwind, and the four of them enjoyed a sumptuous meal. After finishing, the monk stood up to thank the gentleman and prepared to leave. However, the gentleman stopped him, saying, "Master, please stay for a few days. As the saying goes, starting is easy, but finishing is hard. Once I complete the ceremony, I will send you off." Seeing his sincerity, the monk had no choice but to stay.
After five or seven days, the gentleman finally invited twenty-four local monks to hold the ceremony. The monks worked hard for three or four days, selecting an auspicious time to start the Buddhist rites. The scene was truly lively: large banners were raised, golden decorations were laid out, candles were lit, incense was burned, drums were beaten, and flutes were played. The sound of gongs and flutes filled the air, creating a magnificent atmosphere.
After some time of chanting, everyone recited the scriptures together, first settling the land, then inviting the deities, issuing documents, worshipping the Buddha statues, and reciting the "Peacock Sutra," with each line dispelling disasters and difficulties. They lit the Medicine Buddha lamp, which shone brightly, and performed water repentance to resolve grievances, reciting the "Flower Adornment Sutra" to eliminate rumors.
These three vehicles of profound teachings were truly diligent; all the monks were the same. After three days and nights of busy work, the ceremony was finally completed. The monk thought of the Thunder Sound Temple in the west and felt anxious to depart, so he bid farewell.
The gentleman, looking troubled, said, "Master, your farewell is too hasty. I believe you have been busy with Buddhist affairs for several days and may feel uneasy, thinking something is wrong at my home." The monk immediately responded, "How could I dare! Disturbing your residence is truly a sin! I just remember that when the holy ruler sent me out of the pass, he asked when I would return. I mistakenly said three years, but unexpectedly, I delayed for fourteen years on the road! I still don’t know the outcome of my quest for scriptures, and returning will take another twelve or thirteen years. Wouldn’t that be against the holy decree? I cannot bear such a sin! Therefore, I hope the gentleman will allow me to leave first, and after I obtain the scriptures, I will return to stay longer. Wouldn’t that be better?"
At this time, Bajie couldn't help but interject, "Master, you really lack compassion! The gentleman is so wealthy and willing to prepare a vegetarian meal for us, yet you refuse to stay. Do you intend to beg elsewhere? There are still your lord and lady's family ahead!" Upon hearing this, the monk became furious and shouted, "You fool! You only know how to eat and don’t understand the cause and effect of returning! You are simply a beast that eats without thought! If you are so greedy for these things, I will go by myself tomorrow!" Seeing the master angry, the Traveler immediately grabbed Bajie and gave him a beating, scolding, "You idiot, you really don’t know what’s good for you, causing our master to be angry and dragging us down with you!" Sha Seng, standing nearby, laughed and said, "Well done! This fool deserves a lesson; he really talks too much!"
Seeing that the master and disciples were all upset, the gentleman quickly smiled and said, "Master, please don’t be angry. Just be a little tolerant today, and tomorrow I will prepare some banners and drums and invite neighbors and relatives to send you off." Just then, the old woman came out again and said, "Master, since you have come, please don’t be polite. Stay a few more days." The monk replied, "It has already been half a month." The old woman said, "This half month counts as my gentleman's merit; I am also willing to offer you a vegetarian meal for half a month."
At this time, the Kou Dong brothers came out again, saying, "Four gentlemen, my father has been offering meals to monks for over twenty years and has never encountered such good people as you. Today, it is finally fulfilled, and the four masters have arrived, truly bringing glory to our humble abode! I am young and don’t understand cause and effect; I only heard that one reaps what one sows. My parents wish to offer something, seeking their own causes and effects, so why refuse? I also want to support the old gentleman for half a month as a farewell." The monk said, "I truly cannot accept the old Bodhisattva’s kindness, and how can I accept your brother's generosity? I must set off today; please don’t take offense. Otherwise, I will face the holy ruler's limits, which I cannot bear."
The old woman and her two sons saw that he was determined to leave and felt unhappy: “We kindly want to keep you, yet you are so stubborn. If you want to go, then go! Why say more!” After saying this, the three of them turned and went inside. Bajie couldn’t help but say to Tang Seng, “Master, don’t be too much! As the saying goes, 'If you stay, you’ll be welcome; if you leave, you’ll be blamed.' Why not just stay a month and fulfill their wishes? No need to be in such a hurry!” Tang Seng shouted in anger, and Bajie slapped himself twice, muttering, “Bah! Bah! Bah! I’ll say less!” The Traveler and Sha Seng secretly laughed nearby.
Tang Seng glared at the Traveler and asked, “What are you laughing at?” The Traveler immediately panicked, kneeling down and saying, “Master, I wasn’t laughing! I absolutely wasn’t! Please don’t chant the Tight-Fitting Spell!” The gentleman, seeing the tension among the master and disciples, quickly said, “Master, no need to argue. Tomorrow morning, I will send you off.” After saying this, he left the scripture hall and immediately instructed his secretary to write over a hundred invitations, inviting neighbors and relatives to prepare for the grand ceremony to send the Tang Dynasty master westward the next day. At the same time, he also asked the kitchen to prepare a lavish feast, arrange colorful flags and a band, and even invite monks and Daoists, truly busying himself.
As evening approached, everyone had their evening meal and returned to rest. At night, the streets were quiet, with only a few crows calling, the moonlight casting on the ground, and a gentle breeze swaying the flowers. But by dawn, all the household servants were up early, busy purchasing various items. Look at the chefs in the kitchen, busy as can be; the arrangement of colorful flags was noisy, the monks and Daoists were running around, and the band was hurriedly preparing. The messengers delivering invitations were also rushing about, and those preparing the sedan and horses were in a flurry. Everyone worked until dawn, finally getting everything ready; it was truly nice to have money!
Meanwhile, Tang Seng and his disciples woke up early, preparing to depart. The elder instructed everyone to pack their belongings and prepare the horses. When Bajie heard they were leaving, he grumbled, busy packing his things and finding someone to help carry the luggage. Sha Seng was brushing the horse, putting on the saddle and bridle. The Traveler handed the nine-ring staff to the master while hanging the travel documents around his neck, ready to set off together.
The gentleman invited them to the back hall, which was even more splendid than the dining hall. The hall was adorned with curtains, surrounded by screens, and in the center hung a painting of longevity and prosperity. On the walls were paintings depicting the four seasons. Incense wafted from a fragrant cauldron, and auspicious vapors rose from the furnace. The table was filled with delicious dishes, fruit wines, and fragrant teas; although it was a common household, it rivaled a banquet of nobles.
Just as Tang Seng and the gentleman were exchanging greetings, a servant came to report, “The guests have all arrived!” Neighbors, relatives, and friends all bowed to the elder, and after the greetings, they took their seats. In the hall, the sound of guzheng and sheng filled the air, and the atmosphere was lively. Bajie said to Sha Seng, “Brother, come on, let’s eat our fill! Once we leave the Kou family, there won’t be such a lavish meal!” Sha Seng smiled and replied, “Second Brother, with so many delicacies, it’s enough to eat well; there’s no need to overindulge!” Bajie pouted, “Your words are too dull! If I eat enough this meal, I won’t be hungry for three days.” The Traveler heard this and quickly reminded, “You fool, don’t overeat! We still have to travel!”
That day, at noon, Tang Seng raised his chopsticks and began to recite the vegetarian sutra. Bajie panicked upon seeing this, hurriedly bringing bowls of food and stuffing five or six bowls into his sleeves with buns, rolls, pancakes, and roasted fruits, before finally standing up with the master. Tang Seng thanked the gentleman and the guests, and everyone exited together. Outside, colorful flags fluttered, and the sound of drums and music was deafening, truly a lively scene.
At that moment, the monks and Daoists also arrived. The gentleman smiled and said, “You all came late; the master is in a hurry to leave and has no time to serve a meal. We’ll talk about it when he returns.” Everyone made way, with those carrying the sedan, riding horses, and walking, all letting Tang Seng go first. The sound of drums and music was thunderous, the flags blocking the sunlight, and people gathered together to see the gentleman send off Tang Seng, creating an extraordinarily lively scene, even more splendid than surrounded by jewels!
They walked all the way to the ten-mile long pavilion, where the gentleman prepared food and drink for everyone to toast and bid farewell. With tears in his eyes, he reluctantly said, “Master, when you return from your journey for scriptures, you must stay at my home for a few days to fulfill my wishes.” Tang Seng was deeply moved and repeatedly expressed his gratitude: “If I see the Buddha, I will definitely praise you. When I return, I will surely come to thank you!” After a short while, they walked another two or three miles, and the gentleman cried out loudly as he turned back. This was truly a case of “A monk returning from the temple with wishes unfulfilled, unable to see the Buddha in person.”
After sending them to the ten-mile long pavilion, the gentleman returned home. Meanwhile, Tang Seng and his three disciples walked forty to fifty miles as the sky began to darken. Tang Seng asked, “It’s getting late; where can we find a place to stay for the night?” Bajie, carrying his load, grumbled, “With ready meals not eaten and a cool house not occupied, we insist on walking. It’s just like being in mourning! What if it rains tonight?” Tang Seng, hearing this, became angry: “You wretched beast, complaining again! Although Chang'an is nice, it’s not a place to linger. Once we pay our respects to the Buddha and obtain the true scriptures, you can eat as much as you want when we return. You’re such a glutton!” Bajie, hearing this, secretly laughed and didn’t dare to speak further.
The Traveler looked up and saw a few houses by the roadside, quickly telling his master, “We can rest over there!” Tang Seng went over to take a look and found that it was a collapsed archway with four characters inscribed: “Hua Guang Xing Yuan.” Tang Seng dismounted and sighed, “Hua Guang Bodhisattva is a disciple of the Flame Five Light Buddha, who once defeated the Poison Fire King and was demoted to become one of the Five Manifesting Officials. There must be a temple keeper here.” So they all went inside but found that the corridor and rooms had collapsed, the walls were leaning, and there was no sign of anyone—only weeds were growing everywhere.
Just as they were about to leave, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky, and heavy rain poured down. With no other choice, they had to take shelter in this dilapidated building, finding a place to avoid the wind and rain. The night was dark and quiet, and no one dared to speak loudly, fearing discovery by demons. Thus, they sat and stood, enduring a long night, truly a case of “In the midst of great joy, one encounters sorrow.”
As dawn approached, how would the master and disciples continue their journey? We will tell you next time!
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